I am absolutely over the moon that today is Christmas Eve.

Jared and I both have to work today, but tonight we’ll go to church with the kids and Hilly.  After church, we’ll come home to have chilli and appetizers, just like we do every year on Christmas Eve.  Of course, this is the first time in 10 years that we’ll be doing it without my mother and brothers – but we’ll be thinking about them, and carrying on my mother’s traditions just the same.

Tomorrow morning we’ll open presents and then get ourselves cleaned up to head over to Adam‘s house for his big family/friend Christmas extravaganza.  There will be aunts and uncles and cousins and presents and way too much food, just like there is every year on Christmas Day.  Of course, this is the first time in 10 years that we’ll be doing all of that without Jared’s parents and brothers – but we’ll be thinking about them, and carrying on the tradition of spending Christmas with an extended family just the same.

This year will be different than the last 10 Christmases that Jared and I have spent together, but the mood this morning is exactly the same.

Warmth.  Excitement.  Anticipation.  The odd desire to run out and hug a stranger and spread peace and cheer and goodwill to anyone you possibly can.

And so, this is Christmas.